Using the Internet in TEFL

The internet allows ESL teachers to skip boring and outdated textbooks. Teachers can find a wide variety of resources that are current, meaningful, and free. The internet has advanced so much that teachers can now find authentic material in text, audio, and video to teach integrated skills. Oftentimes, teachers can find all formats embedded in one news article! This blog by Ontesol explains how ESL teachers can plan a class around a video, apply task-based learning, use class blogs, and maximize the use of the English language around internet activities.

Social media, in particular, is increasingly becoming an essential part of our daily life. As social media sites proliferate, companies that were once popular, like MySpace, are made obsolete by new ones, like Facebook. Now Twitter is rapidly taking Facebook’s market share, especially among teenagers. This means that teachers have to constantly adapt to new sites and learn how to apply them in the ESL classroom. This article shows 60 ways to use Twitter in the ESL classroom.

Furthermore, the devices that we use to interact online are also evolving. Mobile devices and tablets are making it more affordable for teachers to apply technology in their classroom as students carry cellphones that can easily become WIFI hotspots and affordable tablets can be used to both access material and produce it. As a result, old methods that were previously discarded are being re-einforced and many others are being integrated into one lesson thanks to new technologies. For example, iPads are an example of how teachers are using Project Based Learning (PBL) to teach English effectively. This article explains how using iPads in the ESL classroom motivates students to improve their language skills.